Preparing for General Conference FHE

Introduction:Introduction: Ask the family to join you in a place that is okay to spill and get wet. Present a small cup, a medium-sized cup, and a large cup. Tell the family that the Holy Ghost is like water. We are each like the glasses. When we are being taught, the teacher who has done his work to prepare and invite the spirit in is like the pitcher that pours water into our glass. Some of us spend very little time preparing. We are like the small glass (pour the water into the small glass, let the extra water overflow). When conference comes, we are able to receive some of the blessings of the Holy Ghost, but we are easily overwhelmed and cannot hold more than a little enlightenment. Sometimes we are like the medium glass (pour the water into the medium glass. Just a little should overflow): we are looking forward to conference, we have plenty of room for the Holy Ghost, and we come away feeling refreshed and enlightened, but we still long for just a little bit more. But what happens if we could be as prepared as the full glass (Pour water into the third glass. All of the water should fit within the glass, filling it full)? When Conference comes, we are eager and well-prepared, we have prayed for enlightenment, studied past conference addresses, and are eager to receive more enlightenment. As we listen to conference, we receive every blessing and insight that the Lord wishes us to receive.

Preparing for Conference: Tell your family that one way to prepare for General Conference is knowing who the speakers are. Make sure your surface is really dry after the water, and set up and play memory match using the General Authorities’ portraits. When a match is made, read their name and the information about them found below.

• President Russell M. Nelson: born 9 September, 1924, in Salt Lake City, UT. He has 2 sisters and a brother. He was baptized at age 16. He plays the bugle and the organ, sings baritone with perfect pitch, loves to ski, and can speak 12 languages (including Mandarin and Latin). He was an open heart surgeon (one of the best) and a medical captain in the army during the Korean War. He has 10 kids (9 girls and 1 boy). He became president of the church in 2018. He was called as one of the 12 apostles in 1984!
• President Dallin H. Oaks: born 12 August, 1932, in Provo, UT. His dad died when he was 7, so he and his younger brother and sister spent summers with his grandma while his mom went to college. He played the oboe and football in high school. Elder Oaks was a lawyer, and served in the National Guard during the Korean War. He taught law at the University of Chicago and became president of BYU in 1971. He left BYU when he was appointed to the Utah Supreme Court. He has 6 kids. He was called as an apostle in 1984, and is currently the first counselor to president Nelson.
• President Henry B. Eyring: born 31 May, 1933, in Princeton, NJ. He was the nephew to President Spencer W. Kimball. He was the middle of 3 brothers. He grew up in a studious home and his parents taught him to love learning and reading. He likes to play tennis, drawing, and painting. He was both in the Air force and served as a district missionary in the Western States Mission in Albuquerque, NM at the same time. He was a professor at Stanford University, followed by becoming president of Ricks College. He has four sons and two daughters. He was called as an Apostle in 1995.
• President M. Russell Ballard: born 8 October, 1928, in Salt Lake City, UT. His great-great-grandfather was Hyrum Smith. His great-great grandfather was President Joseph F. Smith. His grandfathers were Melvin J. Ballard and Hyrum M. Smith (both of the 12 Apostles). And yet, his parents didn’t attend church and he never heard his grandparents speak from the pulpit. He served a mission in England. He was in the Army Reserves. He often found himself a leader in many business industries, both successful and unsuccessful, and credits his unsuccessful business ventures as creating a sense of humility. He has two sons and five daughters. He was called to the Quorum of the 12 Apostles in 1985 and is currently the Acting President.
• Elder Jeffrey R. Holland: born 3 December, 1940 in St George, UT. He had 3 siblings, but his younger brother died in infancy. He played football and basketball in High School. He and Elder Quentin L. Cook were mission companions in the Britain Mission. He was a teacher and professor before becoming President of BYU, replacing Dallin H. Oaks. He has 2 sons and 1 daughter. He was called to the quorum of the 12 apostles in 1994.
• Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf: born on 6 November 1940, in Ostrava, Czechoslovakia. He has 3 siblings. He and his mom and siblings fled to East Germany while his dad was conscripted to the German army, and then his whole family fled to West Germany, being labeled as “dissenters.” He joined the German Air Force as a fighter pilot, and left the military to spend his career as the commercial pilot. He and his wife like skiing and dancing together. English is his second language (he grew up speaking German). He has 2 children. He became an apostle in 2004.
• Elder David A. Bednar: born 15 June,1952, in Oakland, CA. he is 15+ years younger than his 2 other siblings. His father did not join the church until Elder Bednar was in his 20’s. He played football in high school. He served his mission in Southern Germany. He was a teacher and a professor before becoming president of Ricks College, which transitioned to BYU-I under his leadership. He has 3 sons. He joined the 12 apostles in 2004.
• Elder Quentin L. Cook: born 8 September, 1940 in Logan, UT. he has 2 siblings. His great-great grandfather was Heber C. Kimball. He participated in football, basketball, baseball, and track in high school. He and Elder Jeffrey R. Holland were mission companions in the Britain Mission. He was a corporate lawyer, focused a lot on medical law, and worked pro bono for 14 years. He has 3 children. He was sustained as an Apostle in 2007.
• Elder D. Todd Christofferson: born 24 January, 1945, in American Fork, UT. He has 4 younger brothers. His family moved to Somerset, NJ, where he was the only church member in his high school. He served his mission in North Argentina. He performed in the Hill Cumorah pageant. He made bread for his mother until he left home, after a surgery left her incapable of making homemade bread. He was in the army reserves for 8 years. He has 4 sons and a daughter. He was a political lawyer (during Watergate), and a bank lawyer before being called as an Apostle in 2008.
• Elder Neil L. Andersen: born 9 August, 1951, in Logan UT. He is the middle child of 5 siblings. His dad became a dairy farmer in Pocatello, ID. He speaks English, French, Portuguese, and Spanish. He served his mission in France, and later he returned to France as a Mission President. He was a businessman, with specific focus in healthcare. He has 4 children. He became a member of the Quorum of the 12 apostles in 2009.
• Elder Ronald A. Rasband: born 6 February, 1951, in Salt Lake City, UT. He has 3 half-siblings (two brothers and a sister). His strongest skills were often described as leadership and charisma (he regularly convinced is friends to happily do his chores for him as a kid). He served his mission in the Eastern States mission (New York and Pennsylvania), later serving as a Mission President in New York. He worked in Chemical sales. He has 5 children. He was called as one of the 12 in 2015.
• Elder Gary E. Stevenson: born 6 August, 1955, in Ogden, UT. He has 2 sisters and brother. He often relates a story involving delivering homemade bread to the 30 widows in his childhood ward. He served his mission in the Japan Fukuoka Mission (also returning later as a Mission President). He spends a lot of time outdoors, enjoying skiing and fishing, and snowmobiling. He started his career as a salesman, later cofounding an exercise equipment manufacturing company. He has four sons. Before being called as an Apostle, he served The Church as the Presiding Bishop. He joined the Quorum of the 12 in 2015.
• Elder Dale G. Renlund: born 13 November, 1952, in Salt Lake City, UT. His parents were Swedish immigrants, and he has lived in both Sweden and Finland. He has a brother and 2 sisters. His first language was Swedish. He served his mission in Sweden. He was a researcher, medical director, cardiologist, and professor of medicine before being called as an apostle. He has 1 daughter. He is the 100th apostle to be called, joining the quorum of the 12 in 2015.
• Elder Gerrit W. Gong: born 23 December, 1953 in Redwood City, CA. He is the oldest of 3 children. He played basketball and soccer in high school. He served his mission in Taiwan. He has been special assistant to the Secretary of State, the special assistant to the ambassador of China, the special assistant to the BYU President, and as a professor. He appreciates doing crafts and painting with the children he meets along his world service. He has 4 sons. He became an Apostle in 2018.
• Elder Ulisses Soares: born 2 October, 1958, in São Paulo, Brazil. He is the youngest of 4 brothers. He was the only church member in his high school. He served his mission in the Brazil Rio de Janeiro Mission. His first language is Portuguese, but he also speaks English and Spanish. He was an accountant and auditor for large corporations, and later, became Director for Temporal Affairs in the Church office in São Paulo, Brazil. He has 3 kids (1 son and 2 daughters). He is the “junior apostle,” as he was called as one of the 12 in 2018.